Nearly 200 Bellingham Students Protest School Closures

Bellingham Public Schools’ proposal to close Carl Cozier and Columbia elementary schools amid declining enrollment and budget pressures has drawn strong opposition from families and students. At public hearings, parents said the district’s reversal of plans tied to a voter-approved construction bond damaged trust and criticized the process, while the district says closures would save $2.2 million and redistribute resources. Hundreds of high school students also walked out, urging the district to keep the schools open and calling for Superintendent Greg Baker’s removal and lower administrative salaries. The school board is expected to decide on the closures at its Nov. 12 meeting; under the proposal, affected students would be reassigned to other elementary schools.